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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Star Light – Star Bright

Since the beginning of human existence, people have looked into the night sky and saw God's creative genius. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out throughout all the earth and their words to the end of the world.” (Psalms 19:1-4 NKJ) In utter silence they shout to all the inhabitance of the earth the glory of God!

In the Genesis account, on the fourth day, the Lord God placed different lights in the sky for many purposes. The first was so we would never be in darkness. The second, designed as a holy time clock to mark days, seasons and years. The third, so we could see the stability of God's creation. Lastly, I believe was to spur our imagination. The eternal, boundless quality of God is something our minds can not fully grasp, but with an infinite display of lights, millions of miles away from us, we have a starting point.

According to ancient records, the peoples of Babylon were the first astronomers. They studied to movements, patterns of constellations and are credited with the first 360 day calendar. Unfortunately, sinful man began to read much more in the patterns than God had designed. They began to worship these celestial lights as gods and astrology was born.

In the court of the kings, these astrologers were the royal advisors in charge of predicting everything from harvests, fertility, wars and their outcome. Divination, sorcery and magic became heavily associated with their duties. As a result, the king's decisions became the law and people worshiped evil deities and things made by hand.

Praise God that he did not leave people in their ignorance. During a cycle of discipline that the Lord had brought upon his people, the Israelites, a certain prophet named Daniel was maneuvered into the court of the King of Babylon. He was given great wisdom and insight by God. He made known to the king the reality that there is the only one God, who rules everything, even dreams.

During Daniel's life in captivity in Babylon, he was put in charge of the astrologers, sorcerers, magicians otherwise known as “wise men” of the day. Through his love and knowledge of the one true God, Yahweh (YHWH), he instructed them in the ways of the One who rules over all powers in the heavens. Many centuries later, when the time for the birth of Jesus, the wise men had knowledge of the Messiah and what the star that rose in the night sky meant, it was the sign of the King of kings.

There are many traditions and speculations about who these men were; the number in their group; what their titles were and even what part of the world they came from. All traditions agree what gifts they brought and that they worshiped Jesus. Beyond speculation, the point made is they were invited guests to the event that changed everything.

Just as the angels announced the birth to Jewish shepherds, the Lord also prepared a group of gentiles and set them on a two-year journey, by a light in the night sky. For millennia the Lord sent his message to the Jews and gentiles alike, to watch for his coming. He continues to send the message of his truth to all generations. Jesus came for all people and he is coming again. Are you ready?

“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation in the fullness of time. He might gather in one all things in Christ, which are in heaven and on earth-in Him.” (Ephesians 1:9-10 NKJ)

May God bless you in the richness of His favor as you recognize His gifts of love!